﻿<topic>
	<head>
		<title>Top</title>
		<keywords>
			<keyword term="execution plan, top"/>
			<keyword term="physical operators, top"/>
			<keyword term="logical operators, top"/>
		</keywords>
		<links>
			<link href="Execution Plan Reference.html">Execution Plan Reference</link>
		</links>
	</head>
	<body>
		<summary>
			<p>
				The <b>Top</b> operator scans the input, returning only the first specified number of rows, possibly based on a sort order.
				The <c>Tie Columns</c> property can contain a list of the columns that are being checked for ties.
			</p>
			<p>
				<b>Top</b> is a logical and physical operator.
			</p>
		</summary>

		<section title="Properties">
			<table>
				<tr>
					<th>Property Name</th>
					<th>Description</th>
				</tr>
				<tr>
					<td>Limit</td>
					<td>
						Specifies the limit of rows being returned by the <b>Top</b> operator.
					</td>
				</tr>
				<tr>
					<td>With Ties</td>
					<td>
						Specifies whether the <b>Top</b> operator checks for ties. See
						<a href="/Language Reference/Queries/TopClause.html">TOP Clause</a> for details.
					</td>
				</tr>
				<tr>
					<td>Tie Columns</td>
					<td>
						Specifies which columns are checked for ties by the <b>Top</b> operator.
					</td>
				</tr>
			</table>
		</section>
	</body>
</topic>
